Beyond the Veil: History of Spiritualism

Local history librarian Katie Keckeisen examines the emergence of Spiritualism, its connections to both the Civil War & World War I, and how it led to a battle of words between Sherlock Holmes author & Houdini. Marvin BC

Discover one of the most popular and most divisive movements in American history. It seems one of the eternal questions that has plagued humanity centers around what happens to us when we die. Most modern religions try to tackle this question, but none did so with more fervor that modern Spiritualism. What started in a cabin in New York with two young girls quickly spread across the globe. Soon, spiritual mediums who claimed they could communicate with the dead could be found in almost every town in the nation. This presentation examines the emergence of this religious phenomena, its connections to both the Civil War and World War I, and how it led to a battle of words between the creator of Sherlock Holmes and the greatest magician of all time.